Pleiotropy is a biological term that refers to the phenomenon in which a single gene has multiple effects on multiple traits. This means that one gene can affect multiple aspects of an organism’s biology and phenotype, such as its physical characteristics, development, and health.
For example, a single gene may influence both an organism’s susceptibility to a particular disease and its physical characteristics, such as height or eye color. Pleiotropy can have both positive and negative effects on an organism, and its effects can vary depending on the specific gene and its interactions with other genes and environmental factors.
Understanding pleiotropy is important for understanding the complex relationships between genes and traits, and can provide insight into the genetic basis of various diseases and conditions.
